‘PAIN’ TO WATCH ARGENTINIANS’ FALL FROM GRACE
Manager Sampaoli appears completely lost as hopes fade, writes Kurtis Larson.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA Did you see Lionel Messi after Willy Caballero’s gaffe? Or after Luka Modric’s game clincher? Or again after Ivan Rakitic made it 3-0?
A man who’s used to playing at one of the best clubs in the world looked like he wished he’d never returned to international soccer.
Another match at this World Cup demonstrated why Argentina struggled during qualifying. Their manager is simply out of his mind.
Coach Jorge Sampaoli inexplicably left Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Angel Di Maria — three of the best attacking players in Europe — on the bench in favour of a listless, disorganized lineup in a match Argentina could hardly afford to lose.
What’s more, with his team in need of a goal early in the second half, Sampaoli’s head-scratchers continued.
He pulled Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.
“I probably didn’t understand the match as I should have,” Sampaoli said post-game.
Major questions need to be asked of a manager who fails to organize the aforementioned group in a way that produces something in the attacking third. The two-time champs finished with just three attempts on goal.
It’s a shame Caballero’s mistake and Messi’s supposed ineffectiveness will steal attention away from the fact Argentina’s staff didn’t get the best out of this group.
At a certain point Thursday, Argentina’s players conceded the tournament. They were attacking with no more than four players and defending with what seemed like fewer.
“We were in one of those situations regarding our morale that didn’t allow us to move forward,” Sampaoli said. “But, I repeat, I’m the one who is responsible.”
Argentina presented absolutely no structure to go with a shocking lack of belief in a side once renowned for its soccer.
“I don’t know about shame, but I definitely feel pain,” Sampaoli said. “There’s pain because we weren’t at the level Argentinian people expect us to be at.”
NASTY LIES
American referee Mark Geiger is innocent, FIFA claims.
Moroccan winger Nordin Amrabat suggested the American referee asked for Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt during halftime of Portugal’s 1-0 win.
Amrabat told Dutch TV station NOS he was only relaying whispers he heard from Portuguese defender Pepe.
“I don’t know what (the referee) is used to, but he was very impressed by Cristiano,” Amrabat said, according to a translation from ESPN.
“I’ve been just told by Pepe that in the (first half ), he asked if he could have his shirt. Come on, man. What are we talking about?”
In summary, Amrabat heard from an opponent Geiger asked for Amrabat’s opponent’s jersey.
“It is with regret and disappointment that, following yesterday’s Group B game between Portugal and Morocco, FIFA has learned reports in the media concerning the referee Mark Geiger,” FIFA said in a release.
“It has been claimed that Mr. Geiger asked for the shirt of the captain of Portugal (Ronaldo) during the halftime interval. Mr. Geiger strongly refutes these claims and categorically states that such a request was not made.
“FIFA unequivocally condemns the allegations supposedly made by a member of the Moroccan team. FIFA referees are under clear instructions with regards to their behaviour and relationship with the teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and it can be confirmed that Geiger has acted in an exemplary and professional manner as an appointed match official.”
It should have been easy enough to approve or disprove. Geiger’s headset recorded everything throughout the match.
PLENTY OF PRESSURE
The Germans enter their second match in a must-not-lose situation if they’re to avoid group-stage elimination for the first time since the Second World War.
Die Mannschaft meets defensive specialist Sweden after the defending champ’s 1-0 loss to Mexico.
“We have made ourselves vulnerable,” German striker Thomas Mueller said, according to AFP. “We are self-critical enough to analyze the situation, but now we must look forward together.
“We have two important tasks in front of us. The pressure is terrifically high, but we won’t win both games if we beat ourselves up internally and look for the mistakes in each other.
“There is nothing we want more than to be successful against Sweden, you can believe us on that.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Ronaldo is the fourth World Cup player to score within the first five minutes on two or more occasions … Russia and Uruguay have already secured qualification. It will be interesting to see how closely they keep an eye on Portugal and Spain next week and if either try to avoid a superior Spanish side in the round of 16 … Luis Suarez is the only Uruguayan to score in three World Cups … Peru has now gone eight straight games without a win at the World Cup … Kylian Mbappe, 19 years and 183 days old, became the youngest player to score for France at a World Cup.
SORTING GROUP B
Iran will advance with a win over Portugal.
Portugal will advance with a win or draw against Iran.
Spain will advance with a win or draw against Morocco or if Iran doesn’t beat Portugal
SORTING GROUP C
On six points from two games, France has qualified for the round of 16.
Denmark will advance with a win or draw against France.
Australia could advance (depending on goal difference) if it beats Peru and Denmark loses to France.